Create a node

Use nodes to organize
FactoryTalk Smart Object
 instances and to define how
FactoryTalk Smart Object
 instances are collected. A node does not sample a specific tag’s value but instead defines the data collection mechanism for its children. A node exists only as a folder in a hierarchy to provide structure for the information model.
To create a node, set the node properties and then set the data collections parameters. Node properties are saved in the .acd project file and define basic information regarding the node.
Data collection parameters define how data is collected for
FactoryTalk Smart Object
 instances that are under a node that collects data based on the Parent parameter. When data collection definition includes the Parent parameter, data collected for a hierarchy based on this setting collects in the same controller scan and has synchronized time stamps.
Data collection in
Studio 5000 Smart Object Configurator
 is hierarchical and by default data collection is based on the top level in the model. Break and re-establish the link between each node and its parent by using the Parent parameter in the data collection configuration.
To create a node
  1. Perform one of these actions:
    • To add the first node, right-click an information model and then select
      New Node
      .
    • To add a node under another node, right-click a node and then select
      Node
      .
    • To add a node under another node, select
      Add
       and then select
      Node
      .
  2. Set these basic properties:
    • Name
      : Name of the node displayed in the information model. See Rules for names and backing tags.
    • Backing tag
      : Name of the backing tag created in the controller. A backing tag is created in the
      Studio 5000 Logix Designer
       project that contains the configuration information for the
      FactoryTalk Smart Object
      .
    • Program
      : Controller program where the node resides.
    • Routine
      : Controller routine where the node resides.
    • Insert at
      : Location to add a rung in the routine where the
      FactoryTalk Smart Object
       appears.
    • Insert at end
      : Location at the end of the routine where the
      FactoryTalk Smart Object
       appears.
  3. Set these data collection parameters:
    • On parent or periodic
      : When this checkbox and
      On programmatic
       checkbox is clear, data collection for this node does not occur.
      TIP:
      The first node should have On programmatic trigger or Periodic data collection parameters because it does not have a parent.
      It is possible to have multiple triggers active at once. Possible trigger combinations are: Parent trigger and On programmatic trigger or Periodic and On programmatic trigger.
      • Parent
        : When the parent is triggered, the
        FactoryTalk Smart Object
         is also triggered.
      • Periodic
        : Interval seconds at which point data is sampled in the source tag.
      • On programmatic
        : Ladder logic that triggers the condition for collection.
  4. (Optional) Under
    Information attributes
    , select
    ThingWorx template
    , and then type the name of the template to use for this node when mapping this model to a ThingWorx instance.
    Following are the naming rules for ThingWorx template:
    • Can not be empty (when checkbox is selected)
    • Can not exceed 255 characters
    • Can contain characters: a-z, A-Z, 0-9, “_”, “-”, “.” and space.
    • Can not contain any special characters (for example: +, /, <, >, :).
    • Spaces are allowed, but not at the beginning or end of the name.
    • Underscores are allowed anywhere in the name.
    • A space cannot be followed by another space in a name.
    • Can not contain three colons (:::) or an ellipsis (...) in a row.
    • Can not begin or end with a period (.) or a colon (:).
  5. (Optional) Under
    Information attributes
    , select
    ThingWorx shape
    , then type the name to use for this node when mapping this model to a ThingWorx instance.
    Following are the naming rules for ThingWorx shape:
    • Can not be empty (when checkbox is selected).
    • Can not exceed 255 characters.
    • Can contain characters: a-z, A-Z, 0-9, “_”, “-”, “.” and space.
    • Can not contain any special characters (for example: +, /, <, >, :).
    • Spaces are allowed, but not at the beginning or end of the name.
    • Underscores are allowed anywhere in the name.
    • A space cannot be followed by another space in a name.
    • Can not contain three colons in a row (:::) or an ellipsis (...).
    • Can not begin or end with a period (.) or a colon (:).
    • Each name of shape can be used just once.
  6. (Optional) Under
    Information attributes
    , select
    InfluxDB Measurement
    , then type the name to use for this node when mapping this model to a ThingWorx instance.
    Following are the naming rules for
    InfluxDB Measurement
    :
    • Can not be empty.
    • All languages supported by SOC are allowed.
    • Can not exceed 255 characters.
    • Can contain special characters (for example: +, /, <, >, :).
    • Spaces are allowed, but not at the beginning or end of the name.
    • Can not begin with an underscore “_”.
    • A space cannot be followed by another space in a name.
    • Can not contain three colons (:::) or an ellipsis (...) in a row.
    • Can not begin or end with a period (.) or a colon (:).
  7. Select
    Add
    . The node appears in the
    FactoryTalk Smart Object
     information model.
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